Hand positioner for golf clubs



May 5, 1931.

F. o. BUTLER 1,804,316

HAND POSITIONER FOR GOLF CLUBS Filed Dec. 9, 1929 e firm Frank 0 aZzZr:

Patented May 5, 1931 srAres FRANK 0. BUTLER, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS HAND POSITIONER "FOR GOLF CLUBS Application le. December 9, 1929.` Serial No. 412,868,

My invention relates to playing clubs and particularly to a novel device adapted to locate and ix the position of the hand of a 'user of such clubs.

One of the diificultiesin the instruction of a vnovice at the game of golf is to induce him to place or hold his hands, particularly the right hand, in proper position on the grip or handle of the club. It has been del@ finitely determined7 following many years' of study and experiment, that the position of the right hand on the club'shaft has a controlling' influence on the character of the shot produced by the club; in fact, many skilled players are able to control the direction of flight of the ball by changing the position of the right hand on the shaft.

I am aware that devices have been suggested for the fixing of the position of the hands, but all thereof have some objections. In the invention here disclosed, I provide a simple attachment that may be readily placed and rigidly held in the proper position on the club shaft to produce the best results for the individual player. In this manner,

the novice cannot accidentally or thoughtlessly change his grip.

An object of the invention Ais to provide a device of extremely light and unobtrusive form. The matter of attachment of the device is simplified in the construction here disclosed by providing a series of teeth or sharpened projections at the margins of the metal member, the projections being adapted 5 to be driven into the leather covering for the club handle. This insures firmness against lateral movement under the strain exerted by the thumb of the user, while thread wrappings are employed for holding the device with the teeth in place.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which y Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views on the lines 3-3 and 4 4 of Fig. 1; and

Figr is an enlarged side elevation showing the device in place. o

All of the views are very much enlarged in ordervto more clearly show the construction.

Avportion of the golf club shaft is indicated at 10, the handle portion being wrapped with leather as indicated at 11. The device: of my invention comprises a strip of metal, pref-` erably aluminum, having a depressed portion or concavity 12 at a point between its ends. At its lowest point, the depressed portion rests on the top surface of the leather and the depth of the depression will only be sufficient to insure a firm grip for the thumb of the right hand of the user. Theend portions of the strip are preferably somewhat narrower than the Vcenter portion and are provided with transverse grooves 13 adapted to receive the whipping threads 14.

*Inasmuch as practically thel only force tending to displace the thumb grip is exerted laterally or rotatively around the handle, I provide means for fixedly holding the strip in its adjusted position, such means comprising teeth 15-16 provided at the margins of the strip and projecting downward. rIhese teeth are adapted to be pressed or driven into the leather and possibly, a short distance into the wood of the shaft. Thus, the device when properly located and the teeth driven into place and .with threaded wrappings applied, will bepermanently fixed and the user will not be able tomisplace his right hand on the shaft of the club. The exact positioning of the device may be determined after trial, or as the result of instruction from an expert.

The shape of the device and the material of which it is constructed may bel varied and the idea elaborated, all without departure fromV the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of theclass described, the combination with a 'club handle having a non-metallic grip covering, of a relatively rigid member having a depression adapted to receive the end of a digit of a user of the club, said member having portions projecting from opposite ends of said depressed portion and provided with transverse grooves,

' teeth provided on said member adapted to enter said grip covering, and threads wrapped around said handle and occupying said grooves for securing said member to the handle.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a club handle having a nonmetallic grip covering, of an elongated metal striphaving a concave portion at a point midway between its ends, the end portions being shaped to receive thread wrappngs, the margins of the metal strip having downwardly projecting teeth adapted to be driven into the grip covering to hold the strip against lateral displacement on the club handle.

3. A thumb grip for golf clubs having a leather covering for the handle portion of the shaft, comprising an elongated section of metal adapted to lie parallel to the shaft on the upper surface of the handle, said metal portion having a depression adapted to receive the ball of the thumb of a user, the portions of metal on opposite ends of the depression being adapted to receive a plurality of turns of thread extending around the handle and the margins of the metal section having teeth adapted to be driven into the leather covering.

In testimony whereof I havev aiixed my signature.

FRANK O. BUTLER. 

